Exhibition seeks Belizean Patriots

September is the month of patriotism and while it would seem that our list of historical heroes is pretty much fixed, a new exhibition demonstrates that there are many ways to identify our patriotic citizens.

Patrick Jones, Reporting

They are the faces of some of the country?s best known patriots and others not so well known. Whatever their recognition factor, these nationalists are getting prominent exposure through a month long exhibition underway at the Belize City House of Culture. Director of the Institute of Social and Cultural Research, Lita Krohn says ?Big up u patriots? is meant to recognize the contributions of a wide range of people to the country?s development.

Lita Krohn, Dir., Institute of Social, Cultural Research

?But we thought we would bring it down to a more grassroots level and to students and say guess what, what is a patriot? Someone who is willing to defend their country, who loves their country, who have done good things. And that can be your grand mother, your auntie, your uncle, your father. And that?s what we?re trying to instil by this particular exhibition.?

It?s the first exhibition of its kind and features thirty portraits of outstanding Belizeans, sent in by people who responded to a newspaper call for contributions. Krohn says it?s a good educational tool.

Lita Krohn

?It also puts people to think about what is patriotism, who are the good people. We hear on the news all the bad things people do. There are lots of good things people do that you don?t hear about.?

?We were hoping that the teachers which we hope will still come to this exhibit, we?ll be open about a month, with small groups of students no more than thirty I think, to come and take notes and read about these people who are builders of Belize, you know.?

There are thirty pieces in the exhibition, which runs until the end of the month. Patrick Jones, for News Five.